Evergreen Lutheran High School

Infobox Secondary school
name = Evergreen Lutheran High School

motto = "Committed to offering a quality, Christ-centered education which prepares God's children to serve him now and forever."
established = 1978
type = Non-Public Secondary
grades = 9–12
enrollment = approx. 150
faculty = 18 [http://www.elhs.org/site/leadership.asp?sec_id=140001978 Faculty and Staff] , accessed August 14, 2008]
city = Des Moines
state = WA
country = USA
principal = Mr. Greg Thiesfeldt
teamname = Eagles
colors = Green and White
district = WIAA Sea-King District 2 [http://www.wiaa.com/Dist2/seatac.htm WIAA District Info] , accessed March 24, 2008]
yearbook = "Vox Aquilae"
website = http://www.elhs.org/

Evergreen Lutheran High School (commonly shortened to "Evergreen") is a private secondary school owned and operated by the Pacific Northwest Lutheran High School Association. It is affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod and Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS and ELS) [http://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?lutheranEd WELS Affiliation] , accessed March 24, 2008] , and is located in Des Moines, Washington. Evergreen Lutheran High School is supported by The Evergreen Lutheran School System (TELSS) which comprises Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) and Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) churches and primary schools in the Puget Sound and Pacific Northwest area. The school is "committed to offering a quality, Christ-centered education which prepares God's children to serve him now and forever." [http://www.elhs.org/site/ms.asp?sec_id=140001978&nc=1206345958428 School Facts] , accessed March 24, 2008] The school's mascot is the Eagle, and the sports teams are referred to as the Evergreen Eagles. The school is traditionally attended by teen members of area WELS churches, as well as a large number of international students from South Korea, China, Hong Kong, and Japan. [http://www.elhs.org/site/default.asp?sec_id=140004593 International Students] , accessed March 24, 2008]

Athletics

The Evergreen Eagles participate in the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Sea-King District 2, Sea-Tac 2B league. The basketball program at Evergreen has been traditionally strong for a school of its size; both the Boys and Girls Basketball teams have made numerous showings at the State 2B Championships in Spokane, Washington. Evergreen is proud of its standings academically among B sports teams in Washington; the school has won the prestigious WIAA Scholastic Cup for exceptional athletic and academic achievement twice, it has also finished second statewide academically three times [http://www.wiaa.com/tourn/acadaward/Wint0708champs.html WIAA Academic Champions] , accessed March 24, 2008] . In the Fall, the school offers Girls and Boys Soccer teams, a Boys Football team, and a Girls Volleyball team. In the winter, they have Boys and Girls Basketball, and Cheerleading/Dance. In the Spring, they have Boys Baseball, Girls Softball, and a Track and Field team [http://www.elhs.org/site/default.asp?sec_id=140001986 Athletics] , accessed March 24, 2008] . In 2007 the school launched its first Boys Football program, and they finished the season with a record of four wins and six losses [http://www.elhs.org/site/cpage.asp?cpage_id=140014202&sec_id=140001986 Football] , accessed March 24, 2008] .

Classes

Evergreen Lutheran offers a good amount of classes for a college-preparatory program. Some of the more advanced classes include Calculus and Physics, as well as the newly-added AP United States History course, which prepares students for the Advanced Placement Program tests. The fundamental classes are also offered, including Chemistry, General Science, World History, Geography, and Algebra I and II. Foreign Language offerings consist of Latin I-II, Spanish I-III, and ESL classes for international students. Introduction to Computers and Keyboarding classes are also offered. [http://www.elhs.org/site/default.asp?sec_id=140001999&nc=1206349315278 Classes] , accessed March 24, 2008]

Extracurricular activities

Evergreen students have many opportunities for extracurricular activities and electives.

Drama

The school offers two Drama plays per school year, traditionally one for a dinner theatre with a more advanced script and another that they take to area Lutheran elementary schools as a Children's Theatre play. Performances from within the last four years include "A Midsummer Night's Dream", "Treasure Island", "Arsenic and Old Lace", "Rumpelstiltskin Is My Name", "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" and "The Selfish Giant".

Choir/Band

The Choirs have always been popular with the students. While the Freshmen Choir is compulsory for all incoming Freshmen, the Concert Choir is an elective and popular with the upper grades (10-12). The choirs host three concerts per year: Christmas, Easter, and Pops (usually the first week in June). The Festival Choir is a group chosen from the best singers in the Concert Choir; they go on tours around the state in Spring, as well as singing at Puget Sound area churches during the Lenten season. Solos and ensembles are also encouraged; in 2008 a Men's Quartet made school history by placing first at the Solo and Ensemble Competition and did well at the State Competition in late April of that year.

Evergreen also bears a talented Band program featuring an excellent percussion section, which makes appearances at the school's concerts. It also offers a Pep Band that routinely performs at Basketball events.

Knowledge Bowl

Knowledge Bowl is a fast-paced and exciting battle of wits. Players compete on teams by listening to questions and ringing in with a scoring bar when they know the correct answer, much like Jeopardy. Evergreen has had a strong showing of Knowledge Bowl teams over the past few years, and routinely places highly in the regional and State competitions.

tudent Council

Evergreen's Student Council is responsible for organizing student activities around the Homecoming and Winterfest seasons and at random times throughout the year. Occasionally they will petition the faculty on behalf of the students regarding various issues. The Council is made up of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and representatives from each class. Elections for all posts are held at the end of each school year, for the next academic year.

Development

Evergreen Lutheran was started in 1978 at its first campus in DuPont, Washington. It lost this lease in 1988, and its campus is currently being shared with Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Des Moines, which it leases from the Church. [http://www.htlc-wa.org/site/cpage.asp?cpage_id=140016287&sec_id=140004986 Holy Trinity Lutheran Church] ] . Portable units were installed in 1989 and 1990 and the building was opened in 1991. Over the past few years Evergreen has attempted to secure property to upgrade to a larger campus. Its past attempts to secure land for building in Gig Harbor, Washington and Tacoma, Washington have been unsuccessful. A committed campus relocation committee continues to search for new properties and Evergreen's final 'home'.

Faculty and Staff

Evergreen has a highly regarded and professional staff. The faculty is made up of: Principal Greg Thiesfeldt, Mr. Allen Ash, Mr. Jeff Kurbis, Dean of Students Rev. Nathan Seiltz, Rev. James Humann, Mr. Stan Cole, Mrs. Beth Humann, Mr. Dave Habeck, Mr. Mark Tacke, Mr. Tony Natalie, Mrs. Rebecca Bishop, Mrs. Vicki Schewe, Mrs. Beth Ide, Ms. Jodi Justman, Mrs. Mae Tacke, and Ms. Nicole Richmond. Mr. Stan Bauer and Mrs. Bobette Weimer are members of the school's support staff. [http://www.elhs.org/home/140001978/140001978/docs/PN%202008%20August%20-%20September.pdf?sec_id=140001978 Principal's Notes, August 2008] , accessed August 14, 2008] All teachers are highly regarded in the school's community.

References

External links

[http://www.elhs.org School Website]